Routine daily activities can become stressors at anytime. The first and most important step is to begin to recognize what stresses you.
You can try to avoid stressors but that's not always possible. If you can't avoid dealing with them, the next option is to try to limit exposure to them. The next option is to practice coping skills, like deep breathing to limit your stress response.
Which of these would you list as your stressors?
Changing Jobs/Promotion
Conflict With Family
Keeping Healthy
Lack of Confidence
Loneliness
Money Worries
Pain/Fatigue
Planning for Retirement
Staying on schedule
Weather and traffic interference
Traffic to/from Work
Travel/Vacation/Holidays
Upcoming Wedding
Global Warming
World Economy
War/Terrorism
Public Speaking
Now, review your list of stressors. For each one, ask yourself:
Is this important to me?
Is this under my control?
Now what? Take a look at your list and the box.
Stressors you don't list as important: Are they really worth the stress they cause? Seriously think about letting go of them.
Stressors you have some control over: Take a look at the stressors you think you have some control over.
Stressors that are important but you don't have control over - or as much as you want.
What are your options?
-Avoid them if you can.
-Limit your exposure to them.
-Learn to cope better. Practice stress management techniques when you do have to deal with them.
02 Find Ways to Reduce your stress
There are proven thing you can do that reduce the feeling of stress. They help build 'resilience' - your energy reserve so you can bounce back faster.
Take a look at the list and pick the ones you think will work best for you.
In order to manage stress, you may need to make changes to cope with life’s challenges. Create and stick to a schedule.
To start, prioritize those things of most importance and then add in stress reducers. Eliminate unnecessary stressors. Finally, make appropriate lifestyle changes for healthier living.
Self Care